MOSCOW: Malaysian Ambassador to Russia Datuk Bala Chandran Tharman told Sputnik that he hopes Russian flagship carrier Aeroflot will soon open direct flights between St. Petersburg or Moscow and Kuala Lumpur.

       "The issue of direct flights between our countries is being discussed in the joint Russian-Malaysian commission on economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation.

       "The issue of direct flights is on the agenda. As an ambassador, I really hope that Aeroflot will soon be able to open direct flights to Kuala Lumpur," the ambassador said.

       He pointed out the importance of the issue for both countries.

       In another development, Bala Chandran believed Malaysia would consider an opportunity to sell semiconductors and electronics to Russia.

       "The Malaysian industry is market-oriented and I am absolutely sure that any request from the Russian party concerning such products will be considered," the ambassador said.

       He stressed that he was not aware of any current talks on the issues between the two countries.

       According to the ambassador, Malaysia was one of the biggest exporters of semiconductors in the world.

       Russia may face a deficit of semiconductors because of the massive sanctions over its military operation in Ukraine.

       Taiwan, which was one of the world's key producers of semiconductors, had joined the sanctions campaign. - Bernama